Having just returned from an epic 2,700-mile road trip that consumed the month of April, I find myself reflecting on the wonder and unpredictability of the course of events in a person’s lifetime. There is little mystery as to the end of the journey, as we all have an expiration date which is mercifully unknown to each of us. It is therefore the journey, not the final destination, that matters most.
The Florida Keys: The Caribbean You Can Drive To
The first leg of the road trip started in central Florida and ended in the lower, southernmost Florida Keys. This stunning drive never disappoints once you pass through Key Largo, the aptly titled “Gateway to the Florida Keys.” It’s hard to describe the beauty of the area as one travels southward through Islamorada, Marathon, Seven Mile Bridge, Big Pine Key, and beyond. To those who are unfamiliar with the area, I usually describe it as the Caribbean you can drive to. Soul nourishing.
For those of us who are veterans of the Keys, every mile is filled with wonderful memories of this special place and how life was savored here over the decades with those most special to us. Priceless, treasured memories of some who are no longer with us.
Westward to Ponchatoula
The second leg of the journey involved traveling across the breadth of Florida along the somewhat featureless I-10 corridor through Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, where the scenery includes the most welcome vistas of massive Lake Pontchartrain. This part of the road trip ended in the picturesque little town of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, a historically significant town that is the namesake of the decommissioned U.S. Navy vessel U.S.S. Ponchatoula and home to the museum honoring this ship and her crews. We were here to attend a reunion set up by The Ponchatoula Shipmates Association for anyone who had been fortunate enough to serve aboard the “Ponch.” The townspeople were patriotic, very friendly, and justifiably proud of “their ship” and her storied history.
The Reunion
The reunion was an incredible event that provided the opportunity to retell time-tested sailors’ stories with a fine assortment of old salts and scallywags alike. Some I had served with; others served this nation aboard the Ponch. before my hitch. Some shipmates we have lost to time, yet their service, dedication, and friendship are not forgotten. Fine patriots all.
New Orleans Beckons
New Orleans beckoned down the road, offering its customary eclectic flair, abundant Cajun cuisine, a wide variety of music and attractions, and adult libations. From voodoo to beignets and street corner jazz, it’s all here.
Orange Beach and the Flora-Bama Mullet Toss
Working back eastward toward my home in Florida, we stopped for a two-day layover in Orange Beach, Alabama. This tourist and sport fishing mecca has been a favorite spot for decades. Coincidentally, the legendary watering hole “Flora-Bama” was having its annual Mullet Toss Event. Big fun on the beach. Five stages of great music, plus incredible food and world-class people-watching. If it’s not on your bucket list, it should be. You will thank me later.
Steady as She Goes
The currents of life are as unpredictable and powerful as those of the ocean. We can neither avoid nor defeat them. Go with the flow, savor your memories while making new ones. “Steady as she goes” in rough times, for these too shall pass. Tomorrow is promised to no one.